Shear force analysis as an indicator of changes in mechanical strength of isolated beef intramuscular connective tissue during aging

Intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) was isolated from bovine semitendino sus (ST) muscles aged 3, 5, 7 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days postmortem. Shear force values were collected from raw ST muscle and IMCT preparations to de termine changes in mechanical strength (resistance to shearing) of the conn ective tissue fibers during postmortem aging. Statistical analysis indicate d significant differences in mean shear force values of isolated IMCT prepa rations between aging periods (P < 0.001) but no consistent pattern of chan ge in shear force values was detected. No significant change in shear force values of raw ST muscle during postmortem aging (P > 0.05) was observed. O ther investigators have incorporated the same procedure and reported decrea sing shear force values with increased aging times for IMCT preparations an d raw ST samples. Our results were not in agreement with these findings.